Newts delay work on Monks Cross stores (From York Press)
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Newts delay work on Monks Cross stores
10:50am Saturday 5th January 2013 in Business news
By Mark Stead, Political Reporter
A Great Crested Newt.
WORK on a £90 million shopping development on the edge of York has been delayed by months – because of newts.
The company behind the Monks Cross scheme, which will include John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Next stores, says construction will now not start until the spring, after the number of great crested newts – a protected species – “rocketed”.
Oakgate (Monks Cross) Ltd hoped to start building towards the end of last year or early this year and the John Lewis store was earmarked to open by Christmas 2013. Its opening will now be delayed until Easter 2014, at the same time as M&S and Next.
The developers and City of York Council said the discovery that the local newt population had risen from five to more than 300 in one season would not delay the 6,000-seater community stadium for York City FC and York City Knights, nor the community facilities. The shopping scheme will unlock funding for the stadium, work on which is due to start in summer 2014 and last a year.
The council approved the new superstores last May and the Government subsequently decided not to call the development in for a public inquiry, despite opponents claiming they would damage city-centre businesses. Oakgate has said the scheme will create 1,000 new jobs and boost York’s economy by millions of pounds a year.
The newts have to be individually caught and rehomed at a £300,000 wetland beside the Monks Cross Park&Ride. Oakgate director Richard France said: “Naturally, I’m disappointed work cannot start as early as we would have liked it to. However, we take our responsibility to the environment seriously and are making sure all the newts are appropriately rehomed, in line with our legal requirements.”
He said if all now went to plan, the shops would all open in spring 2014 and the stadium would be unaffected.
Mr France said talks with potential operators to run restaurants and kiosks on the complex were “progressing well”.
Principal ecologist Dr Mark Hampton said the wet 2012 summer meant the newts had “an exceptionally successful breeding season” and were now hibernating, meaning their capture and rehoming would have to wait until the weather improved.
“They usually start emerging again when temperatures are consistently above 5C so, at the moment, it’s just a rather frustrating waiting game,” he said.
Len Cruddas, chief executive of Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Despite this delay, the Monks Cross development will be a huge economic boost for York.
“It is disappointing and frustrating that, once again, a major development project in York is being held up for this reason, but we just have to accept that due process will take place.”
Great crested newts – the facts
• Great crested newts, pictured, are the UK’s largest newt species.
• They are black or dark brown, with adults being as long as 15cm nose to tail.
• Under rules laid down by Natural England – the authority which enforces newts’ protected status – developers have to lay humane traps to catch them and check them every day during the capture period. All newts which are caught must then be transferred to a designated habitat, and rehoming can only be considered complete when no newts have been caught on five consecutive days.
• They are found throughout the country but there is no pattern to their population and they have disappeared from many areas.
• They have full protection under UK law, making it an offence to kill, injure, capture, disturb or sell them, or to destroy or damage their habitats.
Comments(105)
PhilipInYork
says...
12:24pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Send in the flamethrowers, get rid, build the shops and let's get this new stadium, not the 6,000 version, built and sorted out with safe standing and something the city can be proud of.
Simples.
livewithit
says...
12:26pm Fri 4 Jan 13
The Great Buda
says...
12:27pm Fri 4 Jan 13
bolero
says...
12:28pm Fri 4 Jan 13
TerryYork
says...
12:35pm Fri 4 Jan 13
PhilipInYork wrote:Well said.
Ironic how the horses on Monks Cross are treated like crap, yet as soon as a few slimey newts turn up, it's like animal rescue with Rolf Harris. This country's gone mad.
Send in the flamethrowers, get rid, build the shops and let's get this new stadium, not the 6,000 version, built and sorted out with safe standing and something the city can be proud of.
Simples.
dodgydavereturns
says...
12:35pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Daley Mayall
says...
1:10pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
1:20pm Fri 4 Jan 13
The Great Buda wrote:Three month delay to a major development a non-story ?
Another non-story.
The exaggerated, out of context remarks by Coun Chris Steward on twitter making front page news has to be the biggest non-story ever. A complete stitch up. Chris is a mild mannered, polite and likeable bloke, and has been demonised by a vicious pack of left wing nut jobs looking for stories to deflect attention from their parties failures.
What is really disgusting is the amount of tweets that Councillors Alexander, Crisp and Simpson;Laing have made in the last 24 hours against Coun Steward. The whipping up of ill-feeling towards Coun Steward is sickening, by these three political bullies. Their time would be better spent doing something constructive, rather than petty point-scoring. Shame on all three of them.
The Great Buda
says...
1:23pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
1:34pm Fri 4 Jan 13
The Great Buda wrote:Glad I'm helping. You complained that it was a non-story, and as you were keen to join the lynch-mob by commenting against Coun Steward yesterday, I thought I would make things interesting for you and your bully-boy mates. .
Oh goody, your making this story party-political.
Kevin Turvey
says...
1:38pm Fri 4 Jan 13
This country's gone mad.’
This country has always been mad and for your information the Great Crested Newt and other wildlife have been protected by law since The Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981.
So it’s not exactly new legislation!
Your sort of attitude is why there needs to be legislation to protect wildlife from man’s continuing unrequired takeover of the natural world for short term monetary profit.
Especially when all said and done its only for some more shops, so shallow idiots can get off on retail therapy for the next unnecessary fad/gadget to make their empty lives seem worthwhile or a group of mindless morons following a very poor performing ‘team’ of unskilled, overpaid and overrated Fwits kicking around an inflated pigs bladder round a muddy field in the name of sport.
‘Send in the flamethrowers, get rid, build the shops and let's get this new stadium, not the 6,000 version, built and sorted out with safe standing and something the city can be proud of.’
I could say the same of the housing estate where I suspect you live! Would it improve the surroundings? I suspect so!
Is it full of two legged rats?
‘Simples.’
Yes, you most certainly are!
The Great Buda
says...
1:47pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:"bully boy mates"? Good grief, your'e deranged.
The Great Buda wrote:Glad I'm helping. You complained that it was a non-story, and as you were keen to join the lynch-mob by commenting against Coun Steward yesterday, I thought I would make things interesting for you and your bully-boy mates. .
Oh goody, your making this story party-political.
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
1:51pm Fri 4 Jan 13
The Great Buda wrote:Really ?
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:"bully boy mates"? Good grief, your'e deranged.The Great Buda wrote: Oh goody, your making this story party-political.Glad I'm helping. You complained that it was a non-story, and as you were keen to join the lynch-mob by commenting against Coun Steward yesterday, I thought I would make things interesting for you and your bully-boy mates. .
Read the tweets of your bullying mates, Councillors Alexander, Crisp and Simpson-Laing attacking Chris Steward to improve your understanding of the meaning of deranged !
Jam tomorrow
says...
1:51pm Fri 4 Jan 13
The Great Buda
says...
1:56pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:If you have nothing to bring to this topic, I suggest you leave it.
The Great Buda wrote:Really ?
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:"bully boy mates"? Good grief, your'e deranged.The Great Buda wrote: Oh goody, your making this story party-political.Glad I'm helping. You complained that it was a non-story, and as you were keen to join the lynch-mob by commenting against Coun Steward yesterday, I thought I would make things interesting for you and your bully-boy mates. .
Read the tweets of your bullying mates, Councillors Alexander, Crisp and Simpson-Laing attacking Chris Steward to improve your understanding of the meaning of deranged !
atorycouncil2014
says...
2:05pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:Read them he wrote them!
The Great Buda wrote:Really ?
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:"bully boy mates"? Good grief, your'e deranged.The Great Buda wrote: Oh goody, your making this story party-political.Glad I'm helping. You complained that it was a non-story, and as you were keen to join the lynch-mob by commenting against Coun Steward yesterday, I thought I would make things interesting for you and your bully-boy mates. .
Read the tweets of your bullying mates, Councillors Alexander, Crisp and Simpson-Laing attacking Chris Steward to improve your understanding of the meaning of deranged !
The question is Calamity James can you be 100% certain a three month delay to the project will have no delay to the stadium component? Don't the football club have to be in by a certain date?
The Great Buda
says...
2:11pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Hopefully the press will see sense and delete their ramblings.
TerryYork
says...
2:12pm Fri 4 Jan 13
I see the Tory Boy with 15 accounts on here is at it again. Sad.
meme
says...
2:13pm Fri 4 Jan 13
There is no shortage of newts in the UK but there is in Europe that's why they are protected
look around and you will see miles of black plastic newt fencing to protect sites!
Its an offence to handle one in genral. its an offence to move one. there has to be survey after survey to sort moving them . They can only be surveyed and moved at certain times of year by jobsworths who charge a fortune and have no idea of economics
Frankly I am all for protecting things but we have gone too far here and jobs are more important than a few newts in the UK
Boadicea
says...
2:24pm Fri 4 Jan 13
TerryYork wrote:Rubbish.
PhilipInYork wrote:Well said.
Ironic how the horses on Monks Cross are treated like crap, yet as soon as a few slimey newts turn up, it's like animal rescue with Rolf Harris. This country's gone mad.
Send in the flamethrowers, get rid, build the shops and let's get this new stadium, not the 6,000 version, built and sorted out with safe standing and something the city can be proud of.
Simples.
Jam tomorrow
says...
2:30pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Kevin Turvey
says...
2:31pm Fri 4 Jan 13
‘PhilipInYork says... 12:24pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Send in the flamethrowers, get rid, build the shops and let's get this new stadium, not the 6,000 version, built and sorted out with safe standing and something the city can be proud of.’
The story says:
’Oakgate said the number of newts - which have to be individually caught and rehomed at a £300,000 wetland habitat next to the Monks Cross Park&Ride site - has risen from just five to more than 300 in a single season.’
The maximum fine on the standard scale is £5000 per animal so £5000 x 300 animals equals a potential fine of £1.5 million.
It rather makes the new wetland that has had to be created as mitigation for the project at £300k seem reasonably cheap.
So ‘PhilipInYork’ you have shown that your publically given wisdom knows no bounds!
Any more gems of wisdom that you may want to share with us all?
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
2:35pm Fri 4 Jan 13
The Great Buda wrote:Says you, who called it a 'non-story'.
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:If you have nothing to bring to this topic, I suggest you leave it.The Great Buda wrote:Really ? Read the tweets of your bullying mates, Councillors Alexander, Crisp and Simpson-Laing attacking Chris Steward to improve your understanding of the meaning of deranged !Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:"bully boy mates"? Good grief, your'e deranged.The Great Buda wrote: Oh goody, your making this story party-political.Glad I'm helping. You complained that it was a non-story, and as you were keen to join the lynch-mob by commenting against Coun Steward yesterday, I thought I would make things interesting for you and your bully-boy mates. .
If anyone should leave it, it's you.
Get back to tweeting with your lefty wing bully-boy mates !
I'm happy making contributions in my own way, thank you very much.
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
2:38pm Fri 4 Jan 13
TerryYork wrote:Wrong, on both counts !!
Coun Steward will be sacked for his horrendous comments, I'm sure of it. I see the Tory Boy with 15 accounts on here is at it again. Sad.
Stick with football....... at Bootham Crescent for the forseeable future - newts permitting ! LOL
atorycouncil2014
says...
2:39pm Fri 4 Jan 13
TerryYork wrote:Shouldnt that be 2014 accounts for your argument to stack up ?!?!?
Coun Steward will be sacked for his horrendous comments, I'm sure of it.
I see the Tory Boy with 15 accounts on here is at it again. Sad.
Dear dear perhaps go for a lay down
MarkyMarkMark
says...
2:41pm Fri 4 Jan 13
I wonder if John Lewis will change their slogan - "Never knowingly underpinned".
helzwash
says...
2:45pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Great Crested Newts are far more important than (in my opinion) a poxy stadium.
They're a protected species so I do hope they take this 'capturing and rehoming' seriously. Okay so they're only 'little lives' compared to said horses but they're still important. And in no way am I excusing the disgraceful care of those horses, those beautiful beasts deserve better however a 'protected' species is treated with up most important.
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
2:48pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Jam tomorrow wrote:So, the newt population increased from 5 to 300 - how ?
There isn't an insurmountable problem Meme. The Stadium can probably go ahead, it's not actually in the Newt area; the shops though may have to be re-planned half a mile to the north east.
Was it,
A. Because they had a good breeding season ?
B. Because of immigration - eg. they were put there by stadium objectors ?
C. Because of the Council's housing policy ?
Here's a clue: one of the above is a red herring!!!
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
2:51pm Fri 4 Jan 13
atorycouncil2014 wrote:Look I/we posted two comments simultaneously - clever trick for me/you/us being allegedly one person and all that !
TerryYork wrote: Coun Steward will be sacked for his horrendous comments, I'm sure of it. I see the Tory Boy with 15 accounts on here is at it again. Sad.Shouldnt that be 2014 accounts for your argument to stack up ?!?!? Dear dear perhaps go for a lay down
cityforthepremier
says...
2:56pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
3:00pm Fri 4 Jan 13
cityforthepremier wrote:I'm not Matthew Laverack.
Bore off Laverack.
Wrong again, deluded footy fan.... premiership ? in your dreams !
roskoboskovic
says...
3:06pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
3:17pm Fri 4 Jan 13
roskoboskovic wrote:Welcome to the world that developers have to put up with.
sometimes words just fail me.a multi million pound development,hundreds of jobs plus the overall benefits to be gained from a new shopping centre and we are at the mercy of environmental nutcases who have somehow been given this ridiculous power.give them a week to round up the worthless little buggers and get started with the job.
No wonder we have a housing crisis - for humans, but not for newts !
Thanks to planning laws and council policies, they are now faced with extinction - the lesser spotted housebuilder ! You have more chance of spotting a newt than one of these - particularly in York it seems !
The Great Buda
says...
3:26pm Fri 4 Jan 13
You're easily the most boring poster on this site.
Podlet
says...
3:30pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
3:30pm Fri 4 Jan 13
The Great Buda wrote:.......or, the most creative ?
So now you've turned it into a housing development thread.... You're easily the most boring poster on this site.
For my next trick, I will turn a large rotund religious idol into a newt !!!
He can the join his mates at the Monks Cross swamp, and cause further delays to the stadium ?
cityforthepremier
says...
3:33pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:Whatever you say Matthew. Don't you get tired of yourself?
cityforthepremier wrote:I'm not Matthew Laverack.
Bore off Laverack.
Wrong again, deluded footy fan.... premiership ? in your dreams !
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
3:36pm Fri 4 Jan 13
The Great Buda wrote:....and it seems, the most entertaining....
So now you've turned it into a housing development thread.... You're easily the most boring poster on this site.
You and the footy lobby just can't stay away, and keep coming back for more !
*Let me entertain you*
Take that blobby !
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
3:37pm Fri 4 Jan 13
cityforthepremier wrote:You certainly don't.
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:Whatever you say Matthew. Don't you get tired of yourself?cityforthepremier wrote: Bore off Laverack.I'm not Matthew Laverack. Wrong again, deluded footy fan.... premiership ? in your dreams !
The Great Buda
says...
3:38pm Fri 4 Jan 13
So who are you sharing the login details with?
bill bailey
says...
3:44pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
3:49pm Fri 4 Jan 13
The Great Buda wrote:You'll like this, not a lot, but, you'll like it......
Two replies to the same post? So who are you sharing the login details with?
I'm a magician, and can be many people all at once.
According to YCFC fans I'm Matthew Laverack, but, in reality I'm just little old Sir Percy Blakeney.
The Great Buda
says...
3:53pm Fri 4 Jan 13
The Great Buda
says...
3:54pm Fri 4 Jan 13
My apologies to the pair of you.
bolero
says...
3:56pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Incidentally I just passed your house and I could swear there was a newt sitting on the doorstep or was it a great twisted tory?
baldiebiker
says...
3:59pm Fri 4 Jan 13
"AS A NEWT" later.
meme
says...
3:59pm Fri 4 Jan 13
s a miracle anything happens at all... especially in York...
I would not bet on this taking place anytime in the near future but I hope I am proved wrong
pedalling paul
says...
4:04pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
4:05pm Fri 4 Jan 13
bolero wrote:Sorry, not my house. I live in a mansion, on a country estate, with security gates..... to keep out the newts !
For goonness sake Scarlet Pimpernel go and join the crested newts along with your other red herrings called Tories. Come the next election I shall be voting `Newts` Incidentally I just passed your house and I could swear there was a newt sitting on the doorstep or was it a great twisted tory?
Regards
Sir Percy
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
4:11pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Because, newts make monks cross !!!
LOL
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
4:13pm Fri 4 Jan 13
AngryandFrustrated
says...
4:18pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Kevin Turvey wrote:Excellent post as is your later one!
‘PhilipInYork says... 12:24pm Fri 4 Jan 13 This country's gone mad.’ This country has always been mad and for your information the Great Crested Newt and other wildlife have been protected by law since The Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981. So it’s not exactly new legislation! Your sort of attitude is why there needs to be legislation to protect wildlife from man’s continuing unrequired takeover of the natural world for short term monetary profit. Especially when all said and done its only for some more shops, so shallow idiots can get off on retail therapy for the next unnecessary fad/gadget to make their empty lives seem worthwhile or a group of mindless morons following a very poor performing ‘team’ of unskilled, overpaid and overrated Fwits kicking around an inflated pigs bladder round a muddy field in the name of sport. ‘Send in the flamethrowers, get rid, build the shops and let's get this new stadium, not the 6,000 version, built and sorted out with safe standing and something the city can be proud of.’ I could say the same of the housing estate where I suspect you live! Would it improve the surroundings? I suspect so! Is it full of two legged rats? ‘Simples.’ Yes, you most certainly are!
As for Scarlet Pimpernel - he has all the hallmarks of Mr Crabtree - a zealot when it comes to stories that can be twisted into a housing story. Down with anything that improves our environment and up with clearing the landscape and building houses and buildings. All that's missing is a bleat about how poorly builders are doing at the moment and he will be a clone of Crabtree!!
In the meantime, back to the story. I have zippo sympathy for CofYC and Oakgate - both were well aware of the newts on the site FROM DAY ONE!! G.C Newts are an European Protected Species and contrary to Memes previous comments are still extremely rare because their breeding ponds and habitats have been destroyed, and this case is no different. Yes England has one of the largest populations in Europe but this is relative - in some parts of Europe they are almost extinct. They are still surviving in this country BECAUSE OF THE LEGISLATION, not despite it.
During the planning process, many posters on this site pointed out the fact that there were newts - Oakgate clearly ignored all that and in true arrogant, corporate style gave lofty predictions about when the units would be finished etc, clearly either believing that the newts would be rounded up quickly, or not caring whether they were rounded up at all. That's what you call a corporate ****-up as far as timings are concerned.
As for the delays being caused by the numbers of newts "rocketing" and causing the delays - that's corporate spin.; It doesn't take a professor of natural science to predict, following the wet summer we had, that the numbers of these types of reptiles would increase.
Put simply, Oakgate did not fulfill their statutory obligations before the newts went into hibernation, and now they are paying the price. If I'd made such a mistake, I wouldn't go bleating to the Press about it..................
..........!!
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
4:38pm Fri 4 Jan 13
You misunderstand me and Mr Crabtree. We are not in favour of an all out desecration of our landscape or wildlife habitat, far from it. Neither are we in favour of building poor quality, mass-produced, souless housing. Our gripe is the discriminatory and punitive planning regime that is manipulated by York Council for it's political ends. We want politicians to get off our backs, and leave us to build houses without having to act as part charity or part nationalised in being forced to build social housing for nowt (no profit) and actually subsidise it. We are happy to observe the rules in protecting wildlife etc, but, the p*ss-taking use of S106 has to stop. Allow the quality-conscious housebuilders of well-designed housing to survive, otherwise only the large, corporate, sausage-factory mentality nationals will be left, creating urban sprawl. Politicians have killed off the equivalent of the great crested newts in the development world - the small quality builders are almost extinct thanks to stupid greedy politicians like Coun Simpson;Laing and Coun Merrett.
Digeorge
says...
4:44pm Fri 4 Jan 13
2:48pm Fri 4 Jan 13
So, the newt population increased from 5 to 300 - how ?
Was it,
A. Because they had a good breeding season ?
They clearly have a very good sex life to increase their population, maybe it is the quality horse poo (travellers horses) that they feed off! They, of course, have to be protected in line with legislation. Surely though they were there prior to any building had taken place. Therefore, lack of an environment survey had taken place prior to the purchase of the land!
Jam tomorrow
says...
4:50pm Fri 4 Jan 13
AngryandFrustrated wrote:This seems to becoming an environmental crime scene. If the newts were known about beforehand and are now hibernating, how many were in the banks of the 100mtr x 10mtr pond that has very recently been bulldozed?
Kevin Turvey wrote:Excellent post as is your later one!
‘PhilipInYork says... 12:24pm Fri 4 Jan 13 This country's gone mad.’ This country has always been mad and for your information the Great Crested Newt and other wildlife have been protected by law since The Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981. So it’s not exactly new legislation! Your sort of attitude is why there needs to be legislation to protect wildlife from man’s continuing unrequired takeover of the natural world for short term monetary profit. Especially when all said and done its only for some more shops, so shallow idiots can get off on retail therapy for the next unnecessary fad/gadget to make their empty lives seem worthwhile or a group of mindless morons following a very poor performing ‘team’ of unskilled, overpaid and overrated Fwits kicking around an inflated pigs bladder round a muddy field in the name of sport. ‘Send in the flamethrowers, get rid, build the shops and let's get this new stadium, not the 6,000 version, built and sorted out with safe standing and something the city can be proud of.’ I could say the same of the housing estate where I suspect you live! Would it improve the surroundings? I suspect so! Is it full of two legged rats? ‘Simples.’ Yes, you most certainly are!
As for Scarlet Pimpernel - he has all the hallmarks of Mr Crabtree - a zealot when it comes to stories that can be twisted into a housing story. Down with anything that improves our environment and up with clearing the landscape and building houses and buildings. All that's missing is a bleat about how poorly builders are doing at the moment and he will be a clone of Crabtree!!
In the meantime, back to the story. I have zippo sympathy for CofYC and Oakgate - both were well aware of the newts on the site FROM DAY ONE!! G.C Newts are an European Protected Species and contrary to Memes previous comments are still extremely rare because their breeding ponds and habitats have been destroyed, and this case is no different. Yes England has one of the largest populations in Europe but this is relative - in some parts of Europe they are almost extinct. They are still surviving in this country BECAUSE OF THE LEGISLATION, not despite it.
During the planning process, many posters on this site pointed out the fact that there were newts - Oakgate clearly ignored all that and in true arrogant, corporate style gave lofty predictions about when the units would be finished etc, clearly either believing that the newts would be rounded up quickly, or not caring whether they were rounded up at all. That's what you call a corporate ****-up as far as timings are concerned.
As for the delays being caused by the numbers of newts "rocketing" and causing the delays - that's corporate spin.; It doesn't take a professor of natural science to predict, following the wet summer we had, that the numbers of these types of reptiles would increase.
Put simply, Oakgate did not fulfill their statutory obligations before the newts went into hibernation, and now they are paying the price. If I'd made such a mistake, I wouldn't go bleating to the Press about it..................
..........!!
I would hazard a 'Meme' guess at £1.5 million worth. Or jail and an unlimited fine. Where is the Environmental Agency and RSPCA?
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
4:59pm Fri 4 Jan 13
The Environment Agency is trying to stop flooding, not encourage it !
The RSPCA are too busy trying to rehome unwanted dogs and cats which redundant housebuilders can no longer afford to keep, thanks to York Council's (anti) housing policies.
For heavens sake, the developers have done their bit at Monks Cross, and saved 300 newts, rather than the five that were found in the survey. Give them a break. Get the bloody thing built, and ease the pressure at the food banks by creating jobs and growth - in the economy and not just the bloody newt population !
Kevin Turvey
says...
5:03pm Fri 4 Jan 13
This seems to becoming an environmental crime scene. If the newts were known about beforehand and are now hibernating, how many were in the banks of the 100mtr x 10mtr pond that has very recently been bulldozed?
I would hazard a 'Meme' guess at £1.5 million worth. Or jail and an unlimited fine. Where is the Environmental Agency and RSPCA?’
It would be Natural England prosecuting anyway!
south bronx red 2
says...
5:07pm Fri 4 Jan 13
The Teardrop site was a perfect compromise for the majority of City supporters and shops in the city center.
An industrial site in need of developement.
As for any residential developements.......
. The likes of David Wilson Homes etc. are only interested in developing profits for shareholders. One reason why they are increasing cheap substandard products in the new builds.
York has an abundance of sites to build on.
House builders want £200k + for a new house.
Any first time buyers need to be bank robbers to get a deposit these days.
Im chuffed we have an increase in newts. The shame is we are potentially killing them off in favour of concrete sheds.
Sillybillies
says...
5:13pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Digeorge
says...
5:22pm Fri 4 Jan 13
The thing is that York City Council probably couldn't give a toss about it all as they have not protected Hob Moor and its nature reserve as they should and allowed building to take place on green-belt land.
It sounds like negligence by York City Council on the part of the land....
They only care how much £ss they get and not for the environment. Monks Cross is a nightmare to get to if you don't have a car.
spockboy2
says...
5:52pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Kevin Turvey wrote:How can anyone be so bothered about a few newts .?
‘PhilipInYork says... 12:24pm Fri 4 Jan 13
This country's gone mad.’
This country has always been mad and for your information the Great Crested Newt and other wildlife have been protected by law since The Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981.
So it’s not exactly new legislation!
Your sort of attitude is why there needs to be legislation to protect wildlife from man’s continuing unrequired takeover of the natural world for short term monetary profit.
Especially when all said and done its only for some more shops, so shallow idiots can get off on retail therapy for the next unnecessary fad/gadget to make their empty lives seem worthwhile or a group of mindless morons following a very poor performing ‘team’ of unskilled, overpaid and overrated Fwits kicking around an inflated pigs bladder round a muddy field in the name of sport.
‘Send in the flamethrowers, get rid, build the shops and let's get this new stadium, not the 6,000 version, built and sorted out with safe standing and something the city can be proud of.’
I could say the same of the housing estate where I suspect you live! Would it improve the surroundings? I suspect so!
Is it full of two legged rats?
‘Simples.’
Yes, you most certainly are!
Will a few dead newts really matter ?
surely the development must go ahead .
The newts will move on ,they have survived millions of years .
Jobs and a nice footy ground for me is massive !
Mr Anderson
says...
5:59pm Fri 4 Jan 13
monkeyhanger
says...
6:15pm Fri 4 Jan 13
5:59pm Fri 4 Jan 13
HA HA HA! This story has made my week! One in the face for those pathetic fans who feel nothing is more important than a third rate, two bit football team. I'll bet the shops get built in the end, but no money pit stadium.”
Well said Mr Anderson.save those Newts I say.Maybe Instead of Kit Kat Crescent we could have Newt Terrace or Salamander Street Ground.
Daley Mayall
says...
6:33pm Fri 4 Jan 13
*rolls eyes*
corfu1985
says...
6:35pm Fri 4 Jan 13
livewithit wrote:Yes talking of bats as opposed to newts,can anyone enlighten me as to why bats are a protected species?There doesn't seem to me to be any special reason why they have protected status,we seem to be unindated with them in the summer evenings.
**** - I had put my money on Bats !
uriahh
says...
6:50pm Fri 4 Jan 13
The consequence of this supposed problem is a massive delay to the provision of significantly required facilities with knock on costs and disruption to works which should assist in our economic recovery. In addition the measures, as chosen, to overcome this problem seem to be at some totally unacceptable massive cost and extended delay!
What do we pay Civil Servants and Local Government officials for, and how do MP's and Councillors justify their massive expenses and salaries?
Accepting such a problem exists and needs resolving, and knowing the outcomes needed, is it not within the wit and knowhow of these public servants to organise some basis for getting the required output, but far more quickly - even during the Planning Application stage, and particularly at far less cost? Were these necessary works not put out to Tender on a Performance Specification basis, leaving the means of achieving that performance, subject to any regulations, solely at the discretionm of the Contractor?
In other words, were the works needed put out to Tender from which the best value/least delay and disruption scheme could be adopted.
This appears to be yet another Public Services **** up for which, typically, no one will be reprimanded or punished, let alone sacked!
On a lighter note, would it not be simpler to have flooded the area with cheap raw alcohol - the newts would have staggered out suitably enebriated like many on Friday night benders, and been quickly hoovered up by Mr. Plod and transported to some safe environment!
Minsterred
says...
6:53pm Fri 4 Jan 13
nearlyman
says...
7:26pm Fri 4 Jan 13
cityforthepremier
says...
7:44pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Mr Anderson wrote:As long as the shops are built by outside contractors and not the half-arsed cowboy builders based in York. The sooner they go bust the better.
HA HA HA! This story has made my week! One in the face for those pathetic fans who feel nothing is more important than a third rate, two bit football team. I'll bet the shops get built in the end, but no money pit stadium.
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
9:34pm Fri 4 Jan 13
cityforthepremier wrote:Most of the good builders have packed it in anyway.
Mr Anderson wrote:As long as the shops are built by outside contractors and not the half-arsed cowboy builders based in York. The sooner they go bust the better.
HA HA HA! This story has made my week! One in the face for those pathetic fans who feel nothing is more important than a third rate, two bit football team. I'll bet the shops get built in the end, but no money pit stadium.
Sounds like you tried to have work done on the cheap, and got ripped off by chancers/cowboys ?
Suggest that you use reputable, experienced contractors next time. There are some left in York.
again
says...
9:40pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Kevin Turvey wrote:Excellent comment.
‘PhilipInYork says... 12:24pm Fri 4 Jan 13
This country's gone mad.’
This country has always been mad and for your information the Great Crested Newt and other wildlife have been protected by law since The Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981.
So it’s not exactly new legislation!
Your sort of attitude is why there needs to be legislation to protect wildlife from man’s continuing unrequired takeover of the natural world for short term monetary profit.
Especially when all said and done its only for some more shops, so shallow idiots can get off on retail therapy for the next unnecessary fad/gadget to make their empty lives seem worthwhile or a group of mindless morons following a very poor performing ‘team’ of unskilled, overpaid and overrated Fwits kicking around an inflated pigs bladder round a muddy field in the name of sport.
‘Send in the flamethrowers, get rid, build the shops and let's get this new stadium, not the 6,000 version, built and sorted out with safe standing and something the city can be proud of.’
I could say the same of the housing estate where I suspect you live! Would it improve the surroundings? I suspect so!
Is it full of two legged rats?
‘Simples.’
Yes, you most certainly are!
It's extraordinary how many ridiculous comments have been made. Is it a slow newts day?
Let's be honest though. Shopping is all about generating profits to enrich the 1% whilst providing opium to keep the masses under sedation.
Good for the newts!
big boy york
says...
9:49pm Fri 4 Jan 13
capt spaulding
says...
10:19pm Fri 4 Jan 13
capt spaulding
says...
10:32pm Fri 4 Jan 13
TerryYork wrote:No Richard has a supplier
Probably that Leeds-supporting Barnitts guy taking late night trips with bags of baby newts, donated by Tory council members, taking a break from saying there's no need for food banks.
dweezil
says...
11:32pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Shops, football/rugby round, it WILL NOT kill the city of York. get over it. Badly led councils however?...
Jam tomorrow
says...
12:23am Sat 5 Jan 13
dweezil wrote:I agree about regular posters dweezil; it does seem that a lot of them are the same gang in that they swamp discussion of the topic by pretending to dislike each other. I do suspect that around 3 of them are sat at 3 computers in the same office conspiratorially blowing-a-dog-whistl
It never suprises me how quickly the regular posters engage in their personal battles, given ANY, opportunity. Posting this late, can anyone remember the story? Rent a car park, and have it out.
Shops, football/rugby round, it WILL NOT kill the city of York. get over it. Badly led councils however?...
e to distract the rest of us.
The facts are that a protected animal (and why it is protected has nothing to do with this discussion) has been disregarded. The count of 5 newts becoming 300 newts is not sensible so who did the 5 count?
And more to the point; who gave the order to destroy the wildlife pond on the site when it was known that it must have contained said protected animal?
If this was bats in your shed you would have daily visits from a myriad of officials and you couldn't do anything to endanger them from fear of bankruptcy. Where are the officials now?
roadwars
says...
12:31am Sat 5 Jan 13
A sad mess from start to finish, and all because of one greedy man's asset stripping exploits.
Donny Lass
says...
1:46am Sat 5 Jan 13
Magicman!
says...
3:43am Sat 5 Jan 13
Caliyorkia
says...
4:23am Sat 5 Jan 13
What, oh, Next outlet store, sorry.
I'll get my coat. From the Newt outlet store. Err, Next.
sharpish
says...
9:48am Sat 5 Jan 13
Magicman! wrote:Do you realise how offensive and ill-informed your comment is Magicman?
Wonder if Osbaldwick parish council had a walk over there some a few boxes of newts....
It's completely unjustified and the same goes for all those comments suggesting that any other individual(s) might have 'planted' newts or bats on development sites.
Any blame for this fiasco should be directed at developers who regularly underplay the presence of protected species and also at the failure of the Council to apply the regulations correctly.
You are perpetuating a myth without any evidence whatsoever so please apologise to all Osbaldwick Parish Councillors for impugning their integrity.
jorvik
says...
10:58am Sat 5 Jan 13
sharpish wrote:Why not just move the newts in with the toads that are about to move into the £50 million waste of money called the new council offices
Magicman! wrote:Do you realise how offensive and ill-informed your comment is Magicman?
Wonder if Osbaldwick parish council had a walk over there some a few boxes of newts....
It's completely unjustified and the same goes for all those comments suggesting that any other individual(s) might have 'planted' newts or bats on development sites.
Any blame for this fiasco should be directed at developers who regularly underplay the presence of protected species and also at the failure of the Council to apply the regulations correctly.
You are perpetuating a myth without any evidence whatsoever so please apologise to all Osbaldwick Parish Councillors for impugning their integrity.
TerryYork
says...
12:34pm Sat 5 Jan 13
spockboy2 wrote:Exactly right. Kevin Turvey is clearly one of those Terry Nutkins types. I couldn't even reply to his post as I was laughing too much as the tears that were clearly falling for these slimey things in his post.
Kevin Turvey wrote:How can anyone be so bothered about a few newts .?
‘PhilipInYork says... 12:24pm Fri 4 Jan 13
This country's gone mad.’
This country has always been mad and for your information the Great Crested Newt and other wildlife have been protected by law since The Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981.
So it’s not exactly new legislation!
Your sort of attitude is why there needs to be legislation to protect wildlife from man’s continuing unrequired takeover of the natural world for short term monetary profit.
Especially when all said and done its only for some more shops, so shallow idiots can get off on retail therapy for the next unnecessary fad/gadget to make their empty lives seem worthwhile or a group of mindless morons following a very poor performing ‘team’ of unskilled, overpaid and overrated Fwits kicking around an inflated pigs bladder round a muddy field in the name of sport.
‘Send in the flamethrowers, get rid, build the shops and let's get this new stadium, not the 6,000 version, built and sorted out with safe standing and something the city can be proud of.’
I could say the same of the housing estate where I suspect you live! Would it improve the surroundings? I suspect so!
Is it full of two legged rats?
‘Simples.’
Yes, you most certainly are!
Will a few dead newts really matter ?
surely the development must go ahead .
The newts will move on ,they have survived millions of years .
Jobs and a nice footy ground for me is massive !
TerryYork
says...
12:37pm Sat 5 Jan 13
Mr Anderson wrote:So that's SEVEN accounts this sad act has set up here. SEVEN. Even replying to himself about how much he hates York City. What a pathetic tory boy he is.
HA HA HA! This story has made my week! One in the face for those pathetic fans who feel nothing is more important than a third rate, two bit football team. I'll bet the shops get built in the end, but no money pit stadium.
speaks99
says...
1:19pm Sat 5 Jan 13
Now I know some of you may have been on the Christmas brandy but even you can't believe that...
Sillybillies
says...
1:38pm Sat 5 Jan 13
nearlyman says...
7:26pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Ho Ho Ho....it had to happen. I think some one is breeding them and releasing them at night. It'll not be long before the bats arrive!!
Followed by a protected species of snail? Something's wrong, it stinks. If M & S and John Lewis had any sense they'd walk away from York and build elsewhere.
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
1:49pm Sat 5 Jan 13
TerryYork wrote:Name the other six ?
Mr Anderson wrote: HA HA HA! This story has made my week! One in the face for those pathetic fans who feel nothing is more important than a third rate, two bit football team. I'll bet the shops get built in the end, but no money pit stadium.So that's SEVEN accounts this sad act has set up here. SEVEN. Even replying to himself about how much he hates York City. What a pathetic tory boy he is.
How do you equate Tories with the anti-football/YCFC brigade ?
capt spaulding
says...
2:38pm Sat 5 Jan 13
roadwars wrote:You mean Richard ?
First the Newts will die when the devellopers find a way of "removing the problem" then our great football club will die when the crowds drop back to around the 500 mark because nobody except those who live to the north of York will be bothered about going to a souless out of town stadium...
A sad mess from start to finish, and all because of one greedy man's asset stripping exploits.
roadwars
says...
4:53pm Sat 5 Jan 13
capt spaulding wrote:Who?
roadwars wrote:You mean Richard ?
First the Newts will die when the devellopers find a way of "removing the problem" then our great football club will die when the crowds drop back to around the 500 mark because nobody except those who live to the north of York will be bothered about going to a souless out of town stadium...
A sad mess from start to finish, and all because of one greedy man's asset stripping exploits.
Mr Anderson
says...
7:44pm Sat 5 Jan 13
TerryYork wrote:Eh? What are you babbling on about?
Mr Anderson wrote:So that's SEVEN accounts this sad act has set up here. SEVEN. Even replying to himself about how much he hates York City. What a pathetic tory boy he is.
HA HA HA! This story has made my week! One in the face for those pathetic fans who feel nothing is more important than a third rate, two bit football team. I'll bet the shops get built in the end, but no money pit stadium.
By the way. I have never, and never will vote Tory.
Hoofarted
says...
9:34am Mon 7 Jan 13
akuma
says...
10:06am Mon 7 Jan 13
If one were so inclined, one might think they are being planted in a desperate effort to stop the build?
York CC Worker
says...
11:18am Mon 7 Jan 13
meme
says...
2:11pm Mon 7 Jan 13
It cost some £250,000 for approx 50 newts!Ignoring the costs for delays
God help Oakgate as there is no concession given to costs/jobs/economics etc by well meaning but fundamentally flawed, environmentalists.
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
3:05pm Mon 7 Jan 13
meme wrote:Ridiculous.
I have had personal involvement with re-siting newts It cost some £250,000 for approx 50 newts!Ignoring the costs for delays God help Oakgate as there is no concession given to costs/jobs/economics etc by well meaning but fundamentally flawed, environmentalists.
£5,000 per newt ?
How on earth can this be justified ?
Why can't newts be farmed, and bought to replace any lost through development ?
There must be a more sensible approach to this, as jobs and growth must come before a handful of newts, surely ?
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
3:08pm Mon 7 Jan 13
MarkyMarkMark
says...
5:00pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:If you want to maintain the genetic diversity of your GC Newt population, then you need to let them roam free and wide. Farming them will restrict their choice of potential mates, as well as making to difficult for them to get out for a drink of a night-time.
meme wrote:Ridiculous.
I have had personal involvement with re-siting newts It cost some £250,000 for approx 50 newts!Ignoring the costs for delays God help Oakgate as there is no concession given to costs/jobs/economics etc by well meaning but fundamentally flawed, environmentalists.
£5,000 per newt ?
How on earth can this be justified ?
Why can't newts be farmed, and bought to replace any lost through development ?
There must be a more sensible approach to this, as jobs and growth must come before a handful of newts, surely ?
I resisted the even sillier comments about the depth of the gene pool and what was swimming in it.
Hoofarted
says...
10:27pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
9:56am Tue 8 Jan 13
I'm not Matthew Laverack, and as usual, you have nothing to contribute to the debate. Just out to divert attention from the problem ?,
MadHaxMan
says...
1:49pm Tue 8 Jan 13
......"great football club"
Oh purleese... more ticky-tacky shops and another desperate attempt to make a silk purse out of a sow's football team.
Anyway, the whole project is now totally doomed - just got back from releasing 4 water-voles on the site. Game, set and match to the team in Green!
meme
says...
10:34am Thu 10 Jan 13
It will bring much needed jobs for contractors and then shop employees..
It will bring more people to york and has been dcided to be approved whether we agree with the decision or not yet newts could potentially derail it..
What is more important people or newts?
If nothing else this story has brought to the attention of the mainstream public just what mad regulations are enforced and what stands in the way iof develpment
look around you next time you pass lots of blcak plastic fencing...This is newt protection fencing... imagine the millions being wasted nationwide on this... its utter madness
Pennysworth
says...
12:39pm Thu 10 Jan 13
To some, who can't see beyond their own lifetime, the Newt issue seems incredibly trivial, but those who understand that we actually have a duty of care for this planet are pretty **** pleased these slimy fellas got in the way. Anyway, that said, this and future schemes will go ahead, all green will be concreted over, flooding will increase, and one day someone floating away on an up-turned council office table will be thinking 'Oops'.
meme
says...
10:26am Fri 11 Jan 13
Newts are NOT rare in the UK its europe that has the problem We have so many we could export them and help them rebuild their populations.
We have to have a vibrant economy or how will our children find jobs/homes etc.
Its a fact of life that we are bursting at the seams with people for all sorts of reasons population growth/ immigration etc and we have to find places for them to work and live
Whether we like it or not green space will be built over... It always has been but we have plenty of space to ensure we do it as sustainably as possible but there are rules and madness and at the moment Newts/bats etc are taking over the madhouse
Pennysworth
says...
3:56pm Fri 11 Jan 13
TerryYork says...
12:22pm Fri 4 Jan 13